The 2001 Census of Population and Housing collected employment data relating to the job in which a person worked the most hours during the week before the Census.

According to the Census, almost 30,000 people were employed in Film and Video industries in August 2001. There were 10,804 people working in video hire outlets, 10,070 people working in cinemas and drive-ins, 7,693 people producing films and videos and another 1,059 distributing them.

16.12 PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN CULTURAL OCCUPATIONS(a), By Film and Video Industries - August 2001

16.13 PERSONS EMPLOYED IN FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRIES(a), By occupation - August 2001

Number

%

Film and video production

Managers and administrators

Media producers

1 107

14.4

Other managers and administrators

548

7.1

Professionals and associated professionals

Directors (film, television, radio and stage)

589

7.7

Film and video editors

477

6.2

Film, television, radio and stage directors n.e.c.

473

6.1

Graphic designers

224

2.9

Illustrators

200

2.6

Directors of photography

127

1.7

Actors

98

1.3

Authors

86

1.1

Other professionals and associate professionals

1 203

15.6

Tradespersons and related workers

Production assistants (film, television and radio)

254

3.3

Performing arts support worker n.e.c.

209

2.7

Camera operators (film, television and video)

325

4.2

Sound technicians

148

1.9

Other tradespersons and related workers

408

5.3

Other (includes not stated)

1 217

15.8

Total Film and Video Production occupations

7 693

100.0

Film and video distribution

Managers and administrators

189

17.8

Professionals and associated professionals

320

30.2

Tradespersons and related workers

54

5.1

Sales assistants

124

11.7

Other (includes not stated)

372

35.1

Total Film and Video Distribution occupations

1 059

100.0

Motion picture exhibition

Managers and administrators

Sales and marketing managers

111

1.1

General managers

94

0.9

Media producers and artist directors

72

0.7

Other managers and administrators

280

2.8

Professionals and associated professionals

Theatre and cinema managers

839

8.3

Directors (film, television, radio and stage)

96

1.0

Other professionals and associate professionals

1 278

12.7

Tradespersons and related workers

Motion picture projectionists

846

8.4

Other tradespersons and related workers

369

3.7

Ticket collectors and ushers

1 624

16.1

Sales assistants

1 105

11.0

Ticket sellers

907

9.0

Other (includes not stated)

2 451

24.3

Total Motion Picture Exhibition occupations

10 070

100.0

Video hire

Sales assistants

6 369

60.0

Shop managers

2 358

22.2

Professionals and associated professionals

416

3.9

Managers and administrators

260

2.5

Other (includes not stated)

1 401

11.4

Total Video Hire occupations

10 610

100.0

Total Film and Video Industries

29 432

. .

. . not applicable

(a) In their main job in the week before Census Night.

ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001, data available on request.

Work Survey

Additional data on employment in Film and Video Industries were collected through the 2004 Survey of Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities, which reported that 91,900 people had a work involvement in either film production or cinema and video distribution in the 12 months to April 2004. Unlike the Census of Population and Housing, the 'Work in culture survey' collects more than just 'main job' activity. See Chapter 5 for more details on the differences between the data collections.

Just over half of those involved in cinema and video distribution (51%) were paid for their work, as were slightly less than half (44%) of those involved in film production.

16.14 Persons involved in Film and Video(a), By payment status - 12 months ending April 2004

ACTIVITY

Film production

Cinema or video distribution

Total(b)

NUMBER ('000)

Some paid involvement

32.1

*14.4

43.6

Unpaid involvement only

40.3

*13.6

49.6

Total(c)

72.4

28.1

91.9

PER CENT (%)

Some paid involvement

44.3

*51.2

47.4

Unpaid involvement only

55.7

*48.4

54.0

Total

100.0

100.0

100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution

(a) Excludes people whose only involvement was in a hobby capacity.

(b) Components may not add to totals as some persons were involved in more than one activity.

(c) Excludes some persons for whom payment details are not known.

ABS, Survey of Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities, April 2004, data available on request.

Service Industry Surveys

A third perspective on employment in this sector can be obtained from the results of the 2002-03 ABS Television, Film and Video Production Survey and the 1999-2000 ABS Service Industry Surveys. According to these surveys, the number of employees in film and video production businesses increased by an annual average of 2.6%, from 15,195 in June 2000 to 16,427 in June 2003.

When making comparisons between the various sources of employment data for this sector it is important to take into consideration the differing scope and reference periods of the respective surveys.

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.